Chapter Sixteen: Clash at the Upper Echelons
Without Shennong's "burden," Squad Thirty-One's pace quickened considerably over the rest of the journey.
Carefully avoiding the routes used by the Root operatives, the four members of Squad Thirty-One returned to Konoha in less than five days.
"You should all go home and rest first. As for the mission, I'll go report to the Hokage immediately."
As they passed through the village gates, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Ichikawa Shin gave his instructions to Ryuya and the others.
Regarding the true nature of the Root operatives, Ichikawa Shin did not disclose the details to his students. Given their current strength and status, it was not yet appropriate for them to know too much about such matters.
"Yes."
Looking somewhat fatigued, the three exchanged glances, responded in unison, and then each headed home to recuperate.
Although they had not experienced any high-intensity battles on this mission, escorting someone while remaining constantly on edge along the way had been mentally exhausting.
"Body analysis complete. An unknown natural seal pattern has been detected within the host. Commencing data recording."
The pleasant notification sound rang out in Ryuya's mind the moment he turned to leave.
After watching the three depart, Ichikawa Shin headed straight toward the Hokage Building.
Half an hour later, inside the Hokage's office, the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, Konoha elders Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, Danzō, Nara Shikaku, and several other high-ranking officials were all gathered together.
"Hokage-sama, that is the situation."
Standing respectfully before Namikaze Minato's desk, Ichikawa Shin calmly reported everything they had encountered with the Root operatives.
"Elder Danzō, do you have anything to say about this?"
After listening to the report, Minato nodded, then turned to Danzō and questioned him directly.
Minato was naturally aware of Root, the organization that existed almost independently of the village's administrative system.
However, having only recently assumed the position of Hokage—and with the Third Hokage not yet having fully relinquished his authority—Minato had not intended to move against Root for the time being, considering Danzō's ties to the Third Hokage and elders such as Homura and Koharu.
Yet he had not expected Root operatives to act so recklessly, daring to attack fellow Konoha ninjas without his authorization as Hokage.
This was something Minato could absolutely not tolerate.
"Fourth Hokage, Shennong's medical skills are exceptional. With Tsunade absent, he is extremely important to the village. I sent people to receive him purely for the village's benefit. My subordinates were only carrying out orders. Do you really need to convene all of us here over such a trivial matter?"
Hearing Minato's question, Danzō's expression remained unchanged as he responded in a low voice, instead posing a counterquestion.
"Carrying out orders—whose orders?
Elder Danzō, I do not recall ever issuing such a command to Root.
Root operatives interfered with another squad's mission without authorization from the Hokage's office and even attempted to seriously harm fellow villagers. In your eyes, is that also a 'trivial matter'?"
Minato glanced at Danzō, his tone sharpening.
"Fourth Hokage, they were naturally acting on my orders.
I received intelligence indicating possible activity by Kumogakure's decapitation squad within the Land of Fire. Fearing for Shennong's safety, I dispatched a team to protect him. As for attacking Chūnin Ichikawa Shin and his squad, that was merely a small measure taken under urgent circumstances to quickly force them back—nothing worth making a fuss over."
Danzō replied flatly.
"That was hardly just 'forcing us back.' If not for my student Longye's timely intervention, I might already have been seriously injured."
Seeing Danzō brush the matter off so lightly, Ichikawa Shin couldn't help but interject indignantly.
"Chūnin Ichikawa Shin, this is a meeting of the village's upper leadership—there is no place for you to interrupt at will!
And what you just said is utterly absurd.
If my subordinates had truly intended to kill you, how could your student—a mere genin—have broken free from their jutsu?"
Danzō's cold gaze fixed on Ichikawa Shin as he rebuked him sharply.
"Ryuya is not an ordinary genin. He is a member of the Akimichi clan. The Akimichi clan's Expansion Jutsu is inherently powerful—breaking that technique is nothing strange."
Intimidated by Danzō's presence, Ichikawa Shin's expression stiffened slightly, but he still defended himself.
"A dead-last who just graduated from the Ninja Academy is supposed to be a genius?
Fourth Hokage, this matter clearly stems from Chūnin Ichikawa Shin's negligence. He lacked vigilance entirely and allowed himself to be restrained by a technique that even a genin could break.
If I had not decisively ordered my men to continue escorting Shennong, and they had truly encountered Kumogakure's decapitation squad, Shennong would not have survived!"
Danzō slammed his cane heavily against the floor, his tone stern.
"Elder Danzō, the village has already signed a peace treaty with Kumogakure. How could Kumogakure's decapitation squad be operating within the Land of Fire?
And even if there truly were signs of such activity, why did Root not inform the Hokage's office immediately after receiving the intelligence, instead acting independently and leaving the village? Who granted you that authority?"
Ichikawa Shin's face flushed red as he was about to continue, but Minato raised a hand to stop him and fixed his intense gaze on Danzō.
"Minato, the very purpose of Root is to secretly safeguard the village. In emergencies, it has the authority to deal with certain matters directly. This was something the village's leadership tacitly approved back when Hiruzen was Hokage."
Danzō turned to look at Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.
"That's right.
As Konoha's darkness, some of Root's affairs are not suitable to be brought into the open. Their authority was indeed something we tacitly approved."
Meeting Danzō's gaze, Utatane Koharu spoke up.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Mitokado Homura remained silent, implicitly acknowledging her statement.
"Third Hokage, if that is truly the case, then Root's authority is far too great—completely beyond the village's control. I propose that Root must be restricted.
Moreover, they dared to act so ruthlessly against fellow villagers. Such behavior is far too unrestrained and must be severely punished."
Seeing this, Minato's expression darkened slightly as he turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen and made his proposal.
As soon as he finished speaking, Danzō's gaze toward Minato grew noticeably colder.
For a moment, everyone in the room focused their attention on the Third Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen removed the pipe from his mouth and spoke calmly:
"Minato is right. Root's authority does need to be curtailed.
Danzō—henceforth, without the Hokage's order, Root operatives are not permitted to leave the village to carry out missions."
"Hiruzen!"
The moment his words fell, Danzō's furious voice rang out.
Sarutobi Hiruzen showed no sign of wavering, his expression remaining calm.
The two stared at each other for a moment. Then Danzō snorted heavily, turned, and left.
With the matter settled, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and the others also departed shortly afterward.
"All right, you may leave as well. I will give Squad Thirty-One an explanation for this matter."
Inside the Hokage's office, Minato spoke to Ichikawa Shin and dismissed him, leaving only himself and the Third Hokage behind.